A life less ordinary

As Estée Lauder's granddaughter, Aerin Lauder knows a thing or two about beauty

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Estée Lauder's love of fragrance was legendary—she would even spray it onto lightbulbs so the scent would radiate throughout her home—so it's little surprise that many of Aerin Lauder's memories of her grandmother involve perfume. "I used to watch her apply and mix it, and I remember going to her house and seeing little samples everywhere," says Lauder, who is sitting behind an antique mirrored desk in her pristine white office, opposite a huge black-and-white portrait of Estée. A little over a year ago, Lauder came across a vial of an unfinished fragrance that Estée had been working on in the '80s and realized it was the ultimate hand-me-down: something that could become a cross-generational collaboration. To put her own spin on the "green, jasminey scent" of Estée's creation, Lauder added white moss, an accord that she felt "opened up the whole thing and made it smell fresh and clean." The result, Private Collection Jasmine White Moss, is a modern floral chypre with a vintage heart. Lauder, who has been senior vice president and global creative director for Estée Lauder since 2004, regularly dips into the company archives for ideas. "I find inspiration for everything from ads to package design to lipstick names," she says. "It was so thrilling to be able to pick something up where Estée left off."

When did your interest in fragrance begin?
When I was really little. I had one of those kid's perfume kits where you soak flower petals in water, and I remember realizing there was something so feminine about fragrance. As I got older I loved trying out Estée's scents—especially the solids. It was like a fairy tale.

At what age were you allowed to start wearing makeup?
I was 12 or 13. Estée was very traditional in many ways, and so was my mom, so I couldn't start wearing it too young. I've never worn much: just mascara, brown eyeliner, bronzer, lip gloss, and, most importantly, foundation—I've worn it every day since college, because it protects your face from everything in the environment, not just the sun.

Do you ever experiment?
I think there's something fun about how you can change an outfit just by changing your nail color. And sometimes I wear red lipstick. I love it. It's really feminine and classic. In the summer, when I feel really rested and healthy, I'll wear a coral or a pink lipstick—it looks beautiful with clean skin and a little bit of bronzer.

What was your first favorite product?
I remember being in the bathroom at school with my friends, showing them an opal lip gloss. We were all feeling so grown up: trying it on and seeing how our lips became iridescent. That was the start of loving beautiful products and wanting to share them.

Where do you draw inspiration for the brand?
Fashion shows, magazines, films, art. I find home magazines very inspirational for color ideas, and I pay attention to the red carpet—celebrities are working with the best stylists in the world, so it's interesting to see if they're wearing more earrings, bright lipsticks, or neutrals. You have to keep your eyes open.

What upcoming trends do you foresee?
I think there's definitely a return to ladylike. Clean makeup with pulled-back hair looks fresh again. But there's also a lot of playing with color for fall—the fashion is more traditional, but the accessories and makeup are more whimsical. It fits with the times because it's an easier way to update your look—instead of a red suit, buy a red lipstick; instead of a purple sweater, buy a purple eye shadow.

What's the best beauty advice Estée passed down to you?
Estée had this great quote: "You only have one face—take care of it." She always stressed the importance of taking care of your skin: washing it, moisturizing it, avoiding the sun, drinking water, sleeping enough. She taught me to never forget to moisturize my hands, because everyone looks at them. And she always said that even if you don't have time for any other makeup, you should put on a little blush—it's quick and easy and gives you a glow.